Venetian roller blind with swivel mounted slats



Nov. 5, 1957 w. A. BECHTLER VENETIAN ROLLER BLIND W-ITH SWIVEL .MOUNTED SLATS Filed OCT.. 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l United States Patent O vENnnAN noLLEn Bunn swivel. MOUNTED-stars Walter Andreas Bechtler, Zuri'clL'Switzerland Application October 25, 1952, Serial No. -316,933 6 Claims. (Cl. 160-133) lThis invention relates to slatted blinds and more particularly to slatted blinds which mayberolled up when not in use and thus combine the desirable characteristics ofthe Venetian blind and the ordinary roller type window shade.

Despite the advantages and increasing demand for lblinds of this type all prior available blinds have incorporated one or more important disadvantages which have prevented their wide spread adoption particularly inV industrial installations.

Forexample, many blinds of thisitype are ofsuch bulk as to-prevent their installation in `window framesinot specifically designed to accommodate them. Thus, prior blinds, to operate effectively, must be installed in excessively deep individually designed window frames or projectoutwardlyrfrom conventional window frames to an objectionable extent.

`In `recognition of the long standing need and demand in the Vindustry many attempts have been made to providemore compact, eicient blinds. However, all known prior efforts to provide such blinds have resulted in a serious loss of operating efticiency or a complexity which renderslthem prohibitively expensive.

`It has been generally recognized as desirable to arrange the individual slats so that the weight of the slats assists in the automatic opening of the blind after it has been unrolled to its normal window covering position. In order to accomplish this result it has been proposed either to pivotally support the opposite ends of the slats in guide channels along the window frames at points closely adjacent one edge of the slats or to oft-set the pivotal axes Vof each of the slats from their center of gravity so that the slats tend to rotate around the pivotal axes due to the action of gravity to assist in the opening movement of the blind when it is unrolled. Each of these expedients has important disadvantages. If the point of pivotal support of the slats is located adjacent of one of these edges, the slats, in open position, project outwardly from the window trarne excessively. if, on the other hand, the slats are pivotally supported closely adjacent their center of gravity the moment tending to automatically open the slats is not sufficiently great to overcome the friction in the assembly.

It is accordingly a primary purpose and object of the present invention to provide novel slatted blinds which overcome the above stated defects of presently available structures of this type.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide novel slatted blinds which combine the advantages of easy and positive operation with a compactness here 'itofore unobtainable.

It is an additional object to provide novel slatted blinds which are simple in construction and utilize a minimum number of easily fabricated components.

lt is a further object to provide novel slatted blinds which, because of the elimination of complex and cumibersome mechanisms, are light in weight and relatively easy to manufacture and install.

Patented Nov. 5, 1957 ice iIt is a more `specific object of the invention to provide novel slatted blinds which include an opening slat and a'number of main'slats, the main slats being supported frotnttlteY opening slats in a novel manner which assures utilization of the entire weight of the main slats to provide an opening moment and Vwhich also permits the installation of'theentire blind in a minimum of space.

lt is also an object of the present invention to provide novel slats for a -slatted blind which are light and yet possess exceptional rigidity and may be fabricated at low cost.

It is an additional object to provide improved simplitied means for attaching the individual slats to the lifting and adjusting tapes of the blind.

Furtherobjeets and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

`Figure l is a fragmentary elevation of a slatted blind in accordance with the present invention as viewed from the exteriorofthe window in which itis installed showing the slats in close'd position with portions of the structure broken away to show details;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;

`Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 3*-3 of Figure l illustrating details of the mounting means for the slats;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the blind with the'slfats in open position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating constructional features of the bottom of the blind;

VFigure 6 is `an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the uppermost portion of the blind;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the bottom of the blind illustrating the slats in closed position;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 Vshowing the slats in open position;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the means for securing one edge of the slats to the lifting tape; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view of slat.

Because of its rugged and weather resistant construction, the roller blind according to the present invention is particularly adapted for installation exteriorly of the adjacent window and for purposes of illustrating the unique advantages of the present blind such an installation will be described although it will be understood that the blind is also adapted for installation inwardly of the adjacent window in accordance with conventional domestic practice.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings 20 and 21 indicate, respectively, the bottom and side edges of the window frame in which the blind is to be installed. The top of the window frame is dened by the lower edge 22, of an overhanging outwardly projecting cornice structure 24. The window 26 which, by way of illustration, is shown as a fixed window is installed in an area defined by the bottom and side edges 20 and 21, respectively, of the window frame structure and is mounted at its top edge in a molding 27.

VThe cornice structure is provided with lan elongated U-shaped recess 28 in which is received a roller 29 rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in suitable supports in the building walls. Attached to the roller adjacent one or both of its ends are pulleys 30 to which pull cords 31 are attached in accordance with conventional practice.

The blind proper comprises an opening slat assembly 32 and a plurality of identical opening slats 34. The main slat assembly 32 includes an opening slat 33 preferably a modified form of the constructed of relatively thick sheet metal, preferably aluminum, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are downwardly bent as at 36 to provide additional stiffening. The main slat members 34 which are preferably constructed of relatively thin sheet aluminum are provided, as seen particularly in Figure 6, with a downwardly bowed main body portion 38 the opposite longitudinal edges of which are bent to form stiffening rolls 40 of substantially cylindrical form.

By virtue of this construction the blind may be very light in weight and at the same time exceptionally durable. Both the curvature of the main body section 38 of the main slats and the stiffening rolls 40 contribute to prevent bending of the slats even over relatively long spans. Also the curvature of the main body portion facililates rolling the slats on the roller 29.

Received in a recess 41 in the side members of the window opening is a channel guide member indicated generally at 42. The guide member 42 comprises a main channel portion 44 having parallel substantially vertically disposed side walls 46 and 48. An extension member 50 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the top of the channel portion and extends upwardly therefrom. Securely attached, respectively, to the side mem` bers 46 and 48 and extension 50 are arcuate side members 52 and 54 which diverge in an upward direction and thus form an enlarged open throat portion in the channel for a purpose to appear. At a point out of alignment with the axis of the main channel portion 44 the extension member 50 is provided with a notch 56.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that the roller 29 is located so that the peripheral edge of the roll body is disposed above and in substantial alignment with the edge 46 of the channel 42.

The means for securing the opening slat assembly and the main slat to the operating mechanism and for mounting the slats in the guide channels 42 will now be described.

The operation of the blind is controlled primarily by one or more support tapes which are securely attached at their upper ends to the main body portion of the roll 29. The tapes 60 are preferably fabricated from spring steel although other materials having similar characteristics may be employed as long as the tape 60 is suticiently exible to permit its being wound upon the roll 29 and at the same time is substantially inextensible. The number of the tapes 6I] employed will depend on the width of the window frame and two are shown by way of illustration.

With particular reference to Figures 2 and 6 it will be seen that the opening slat 33 is attached to the tape by means of a metal clip 62 fastened to the tape 60 by oppositely directed ears 64. The clip also extends through a cut-out portion 66 in one edge of the opening slat 32 and encircles a pin 68 attached as by welding or other suitable means to the slat 32 within one of the bent portions 36. Sufficient clearance is provided between clip 62 and pin 68 so that the opening slat may pivot freely with respect to the tape 60. By a similar construction, shown particularly in Figure 9, the main slats are secured to the tape 60. However, it has been found desirable to utilize the forward cylindrical rolled edge of the main slats for attachment to the clip 62 in lieu of a separate pin. Again a cut-out portion 70 is provided adjacent the rolled edge 40 to accommodate the clip 62. Since the rolled edge 40 is of circular section the slat may pivot fully with respect to clip 62. If desired, a circular pin similar to pin 68 may be secured in the rolled edge 40 to be pivotally received in the clip.

The opening slat assembly also includes a support pin 72 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the slat 33 opposite the edge of the slat including pin 68. As best shown in Figures 1 and 6 the pin 72 comprises two paralleloffset sections 74 and 76 connected by an intermediate section 78. The plane of the intermediate section 78 is disposed at an obtuse angle, for example, 150 to the plane of the opening slat 33. It will be seen that the portion 76 of the hinge pin 72 extends outwardly beyond the ends of the slat so that as the blind is lowered it will engage and be pivotally supported by the notch 56 in the upper surface of the member 50. Thereafter the opening slat 33 will pivot about an axis defined by the hinge pin section 76. It will be understood that a construction identical to that thus far described is provided at the opposite end of the blind.

Pivotally attached to the section 74 of the hinge pin 72 is a fitting 82 which supports a second operating tape 84 preferably of a construction similar to the tape 60. The fitting 82 is so positioned that the tape 84 will be disposed in the channel 44 between the side walls 46 and 48. At regularly spaced intervals corresponding t0 the spacing of the clips 62 on tape 60, the tape 84 is provided with a series of similar clips 85 which receive support pins 88 secured to the main slats as by rivets or welding to the opposite ends of the main slats along their longitudinal axes. It will be noted that since the tape 84 and the support pins 88 are received in the guide channels the longitudinal axes of the individual main slats will be maintained in vertical alignment during opening and closing movement of the slats. Also since the main slats are all of identical size the points of their attachment to the operating tape 60 will also automatically be maintained in vertical alignment throughout the oper` ating range of the blind.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 an additional cover slat 86 may be provided if desired above the opening slat 33. The cover slat is preferably of the same construction as the main slats 34. The slat 86, as provided, will be attached at its upper edge as viewed in Figure 2 to the tape 60 by a clip as described above. The cover slat 86 is ordinarily used only where the roller structure might otherwise be exposed to the weather.

To provide a nished construction it may be desirable to provide a heavy bottom slat 87 which may be pivotally supported by hinge pin 88 between the side sections 46 and 48 of the guide member 42 although not necessarily attached to the tape 84. The bottom slat 87 is attached by means of a hinged construction 90 to the lowermost of the main slats 34 at a point along the longitudinal axis of the latter so that pivotal motion of the main slats can be effected without substantially altering the position of the bottom slat. The bottom slat is provided with oppositely projected llanges 92 the former engaging the window sill 20 and 93 the latter engaging the upper edge 22 of the cornice to prevent the blind from being rolled up beyond a predetermined position.

The operation of the blind will now be described assuming a starting position in which the blind is co1npletely rolled on the roller 29. The blind may be unJ rolled by releasing the cord 31. As the slats are lowered, the hinge pins will be guided into the channel 42 by the diverging throat members 52 and 54. The individual main slat hinge pins 88 will slide freely down channel 42 until the section 76 of the hinge pin on the opening slat 33 is arrested by the notch 56 in the member 5t) at the top of the guide channel at which time the blind will assume the position shown in Figures l, 2 and 7. Upon continued downward movement of the tape 60 the opening slat assembly 32 begins to rotate about the axis established by section 76 of the pin 72 since the entire weight of the main slats and the bottom slat is applied to the opening slat at a point otlsct from this pivotal axis. Since the upper edges of all of the main body slats are connected to the steel tape 60 the portions of the slats so connected to the tape will continue their downward movement at a greater rate than the individual hinge pins 88 which are supported on the tape 84 thus producing counterclockwise or opening movement (as viewed in Figure 2) of all of the slats. This opening motion may be continued until the slats occupy substantially horizontal or fully open position as shown in Figures 4, 6 and 8. The individual main body slats exert no turning moment about their own axes since these axes are located substantially at their center of gravity.

The action of the hinge construction 90 at the lower end of the blind during opening movement is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 illustrates the lower end of the blind at the moment the portion 76 of the hinge pin 72 contacts the notch 56 in the member 50. The length of the blind is preferably selected so that the forward end of the ilange 92 will then be in contact with the lower surface of the window. Upon further lowering movement of the tapes 60 and 84 the liange 92 of the slat 87 will be in full surface Contact with the lower surface 20 of the window and flange 93 will also be in contact with this surface. The hinge construction 90 will accommodate the necessary relative angular movement of the slat 87 as shown in Figure 8. It is to be particularly noted that the relative movement of the member 87 can be effected without interfering in any way with the action of the lowermost slat 34.

If the length of the blind is selected so that neither of the iianges 92 or 93 are disposed in contact with the lower surface 20 of the window when the blind is fully lowered, the lower slat 87 will be freely suspended from the center of the lowermost slat and its relative angularity will not change during opening movement of the slat.

Figure 10 illustrates a modified form of the main slats. As in the construction shown in detail in Figure 6 the modified slat shown in Figure l0 is preferably fabricated of thin sheet metal, preferably aluminum and has a main arcuate body portion 94 and is provided with stiffening rolls 96 and 98 at its opposite lateral edges. However the rolls 96 and 98 are disposed respectively at opposite sides of the main body portion 94 of the slat. It will be seen that this construction permits a more closely intertting relation between the main slats when they occupy their closed position shown, for example, in Figure 7.

In all previous blinds any automatic opening movement has been obtained only because of the turning moment exerted by the individual slats which necessitated pivotally supporting the slats at a point oi-set from their geometric center thus substantially increasing the distance the individual slats project outwardly from the guide channel and consequently requiring extra space prohibited their installation in the existing narrow window frames.

From the above it will be seen that the stated objects of the invention have been accomplished by the provision of a roller type slatted blind which together with the operating mechanism occupies a minimum of space and also insures the automatic opening movement of the slats despite the fact that the distance between the pivotal axis of the slats and the point of attachment of the lifting tape is so short as to prevent an unbalance in the individual slats sufficient to pivot them.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

This application is a continuation in part of copending application Serial No. 180,753, led August 22, 1950, and based on an application tiled in Switzerland on June l5, 1950.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A slotted blind comprising an opening slat and a plurality of main slats, a pair of parallel guide members, means extending from opposite ends of said main slats and received in said guide members, said extending means being substantially midway of the edges of said main slats and defining pivotal axes for said main slats, a first pair of spaced tapes connecting the main slats on their pivotal axes and connecting the main slats to the opening slat, a roller mounted above said slats, a second pair of tapes connected to said roller and to one edge of each of said slats and forming the sole support means between said roller and slats, pivot means extending from said opening slat from a line through the points of attachment of said iirst pair of tapes away from the edge to which said second pair of tapes is attached, and rigid support means above said guide members receiving said pivot means at points on the other side of said first pair of tapes from said second pair of tapes, said support means forming pivot points about which said opening slat pivots as said main slats pivot about the extending means at the ends thereof.

2. A slatted blind as set out in claim l wherein said pivot means extending from said opening slat comprises a pair of arms extending away from opposite ends of said slat and terminating in outwardly extending pins which engage said rigid supports, said arms extending upwardly with respect to the plane of said opening slat.

3. A slatted blind as set out in claim 1 wherein said first and second pairs of tapes comprise ilexible metal strips.

4. A slatted blind as set out in claim 3 wherein said main slats have an arcuate body portion of relatively thin sheet metal and have stiiening rolls along their longitudinal edges.

5. A slatted blind as set out in claim 4 wherein said body portions of said main slats are cut away adjacent the stiffening roll which forms the edge to which said second pair of tapes is attached, and clips attached to said second pair of tapes at spaced intervals, each clip having a portion loosely encircling a stilening roll at said cutaway portions.

6. A slatted blind as set out in claim 4 wherein one of said stiffening rolls is formed on the concave side of said body portion and the other stiening roll is formed on the convex side of said body portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent 

